Its world famous gliding centre, where scenic glider flights into the Southern Alps are available, as well as a pilot training school, is 30 km south of Twizel and 100 km south of Mount Cook.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]- Omarama is at the junction of State Highway 8 between Twizel and Cromwell, and SH83 from Oamaru. Drive times are 1.5 hours from Wanaka, 2.5 hours from Queenstown and 4.5 hours from Christchurch.
By (powered) plane
[edit]- Christchurch has the nearest international airport.
- Queenstown has the nearest major domestic airport.
By bus
[edit]Intercity (Newmans Coach Lines) have one coach per day from Christchurch and one from Queenstown.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Omarama
See
[edit]- 1 The Wrinkly Rams, 24-30 Omarama Ave (Twizel-Omarama Rd), ☏ +64 3 438-9751. Daily, times vary (phone to check). An informative show about New Zealand's high country sheep shearing, with a live sheep shorn on stage. Shows last 30–45 min, which includes a 10-min movie 'Micron Magic'. Also a demonstration of an eye dog, a sheepdog herding sheep by its stare. A must-see in Omarama. Don't forget your camera. Has a cafe, winebar, and a gift shop whose stock includes clothing made from ultra-fine merino wool and delicious honey. Adult $25, child 5–15 $12.50, family of four $60.
- Clay Cliffs, $5 per vehicle. 15-min drive through a natural heritage protected site looking at natural erosion that has occurred due to the Ostler fault.
Do
[edit]Gliding between September and April:
- 1 Glide Omarama, 30 Airport Road, Omarama, ☏ +64 3 438-9555, toll-free: 0508 4543464 (GLIDING ), [email protected]. Flight times range from 20min to several hours. Also offer training courses. $350+.
- Omarama Gliding Club. Operate from the airfield.
- Canterbury Gliding Club operate from the airfield during January.
- Hang Gliding, 0800 02 45433. Take an at least 20 minute flight over Omarama.
Learn
[edit]- Gavin Wills Mountain Soaring, ☏ +64 3 438-9555. Soaring school with introductory and advanced level courses.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- Kahu Café on the airfield, between the camping ground and the hangars. Coffee and meals.
- 1 Ladybird Hill, 1 Pinot Noir Court (2 minute walk from the town centre), ☏ +64 3 438-9550. Th-Su 10am to late. Vineyard restaurant with extensive grounds, kids playground, fish feeding and a walking trail leading to a lookout giving the best views of Omarama and the surrounding area. Advance booking required.
- The Wrinkly Rams Café. Omarama's best food and coffee. More info in the "See" section above.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Heritage Gateway Hotel, State Highway 8, ☏ +64 3 438 9805. 98 rooms
- Countrytime Hotel. 50 rooms.
- Sierra Motels. From $95.
- 2 Ahuriri Motel, State Highway 83, ☏ +64 3 438-9451, toll-free: 0800 438 945. 14 rooms
- Omarama Hotel.
Go next
[edit]- South-west on SH 8 to Wanaka and Cromwell in the Queenstown-Lakes district
- North on SH 8 to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Twizel and Lake Tekapo
- East on SH 83 to Oamaru on the coast
| Cromwell ← | SW  N
|
→ Twizel → Lake Tekapo |
| End ← | W  E
|
→ Otematata → Oamaru |